Easel.



W. A. HAR'I'MANr EASEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13,1908.

91 8,045 Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

witness 6M f/azfi w WILLIAM A. HARTMAN, 0F BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

EASEL.

Specification of Letters.Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed June 13, 1908. Serial No.'438,386.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. l-lAirr- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Easels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to easels and has for its object the production of a simple, inexpensive and satisfactory supporting frame, designed and adapted primarily for the reception of toilet mirrors of comparatively small size. In this use, for which it is more especially intended, the present invention is admirably suited to receive and securely retain mirrors of various sizes, shapes and configurations, particularly chipped or beveled edge mirrors of rectangular, circular or diamond shape.

As a further object the invention contemplates a folding back strut or easel support which is proof against accidental displacement, and which cooperates with the frame to insure stability in a marked degree.

The invention is also well suited as an easel-support for plaques, pictures or cards, and for all uses to which such easels have been heretofore applied.

The invention will be hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application, and whereon corresponding reference numerals indicate like parts in both views: Figure l is a perspective view of my invention as applied to a rectangular chipped edge plate glass mirror; and Fig. 2 is also a perspective view of my invention with the glass removed.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 indicates the frame or body which is preferably formed from a single piece of relatively stifi wire which 1 has its start in two uppermost corresponding overhanging tension hook-members 2, Beneath these forwardly projecting and retaining hook members are formed two oppositely disposed spring convolutes 3, 3 preferably, as shown, in a plane substantially parallel with the frame or body of the easel, not however, necessarily so, as said J, convolutes would serve their intended purpose equally well, if inclined at any angle to said plane, although it is desirable that they should not project in front thereof.

Below the con volutes 3, 3 in both members of the easel frame 1 are formed rearwardly projecting eyes 4,4, to serve as the con.- necting means for a suitable back-strut, as will later appear, and continuing downward in a common plane the frame 1, 1 terminates in a pair of loose or open convolutes 5, 5 constituting article supports, also by preference oppositely arranged. The said open convolutes 5, 5 constituting the main or primary support for articles consigned to the easel. need not necessarily be oppositely arranged as stated, but by forming one as a right and the other as a left convolute and both forwardly projecting, a counterbalancing action is efiected, and all twisting tendencies overcome.

At its base the easel frame terminates in diverging loops 6, 6 formed by downward continuations 7, is finished by a horizontal spacing bar 8, upon which latter said members 7, 7. are closely wound at their intersection with the base loops (3, (l.

The numeral 1) indicates the base and 10, 11 the upwardly extending converging sides of a unitary back-strut or standard for the easel frame. At its upper end the side 10 of said back-strutis angled as at 12, horizontally across the structure, and, passing through one of the eyes 4 aforesaid is thus pivotally connected to the easel frame, said angular end 12 terminating in close proximity to the other of said eyes 4 thus serving as av space bar. The opposite side-member 11, also rising from base 9, is correspondingly angled in a horizontal direction as at 13 through the opposite eye 4, but differing from said'angle 12 the latter does not terminate adjacent to its opposite eye 4, but on the contrary is doubled upon itself as at 14, and this extension terminates back of the easel frame at a point above its pivotal connection.

This being a description of my invention in its preferred form of construction it will be noted by the illustrations that same presents an unusually stable and symmetrical appearance, the structure may be plated, oxidized or otherwise finished, and when in use as indicated by Fig. 1, the mirror or 7 of the convolutes 5, 5, and

other article consigned thereto is received at its base in the two open convolutes 5, 5 with its top or opposite edge embraced by the forwardly projecting and spring retained tension hooks 2, 2. In such application of the invention it will be noted that the right and left arrangement of supporting convolutes 5, 5 contributes materially to the poise and security of the mirror or other article; while the hook members 2, 2, kept under tension by agency of the spring convolutes 3, 3. securely retain the mirror or other article above. Moreover, it will he noted that compression of the two upright members l0. ll of the back strut cannot possibly diseonnect said strut from the easel frame, as frequently occurs with small hand mirrors as heretofore constructed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wire easel the combination with a unitary frame provided with article supports comprising right and left hand convolutes adapted to yieldingly grip the article, of a folding back-strut having inwardly projecting angular ends pivotally connected with said frame, and an extension upon one of said ends folded upon itself and engaging the frame at one side of its pivotal connection to limit the spread of said frame and strut, substantially as described.

2. In a wire easel the combination with a unitary frame provided with primary article supports comprising right and left hand convolute's adapted to yieldingly grip the article, of secondary article supports comprising angular ends pivotally connected with said frame, an extension upon one of said ends folded upon itself and engaging the frame to limit the spread of said frame and strut,

and a horizontal extension upon the other of said ends serving as a space bar, substantially as described.

4. In a wire easel the comblnation with a unitary frame provided with article supports comprising right and left hand convolutes, of a folding back-strut having converging angular ends pivotally connected with said frame, an extension upon one of said ends folded upon itself and engaging the frame above its pivotal connection, and a horizontal extension upon the other of said ends serving as a space bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HARTMAN. Witnesses:

BLAIR MoLURn, L. P. WALKER. 

